The cleaver discussion thread.....

Just recieved this as a gift from my daughters father in law. All I know for sure at this point is it has been in his family for a long time.
It"s a L & I J White with there common trade mark. Tapered tang and pinned handle. The reverse is marked " August Mignola San Jose Cali".
Not sure if August Mignola was a merchant or a relative.
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Some research.
Hotel Metropole, S first street, San Jose. "The tenant who
was there the longest (1909 to the 1970s) was August Mignola
and Co., a cutlery and knife sharpening business.
 


Both for only £8!

I'm going to clean the handle of the big cleaver as the scales were loose and when I took them off the steel was very rusted and the handle wood split..
 
NICE! Love that one on the bottom. I'm guessing it's likely French.
 
The markings are very faded, but I think there is a leaping deer? and I heard elsewhere it may be swiss.. But I have no idea, it's a beast, it's thick too and the only work I'll do to it is clean up the steel under the scales, fix the scales back on and together and sharpen it.

I'm gona leave all that patina and what not on there. Looks like it's killed a few! lol
 
That general type of cleaver was popular in France, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, and others. The particular transition of the belly to the tip is a fairly tight radius, which seems to be most common on French examples. :)
 
The markings are very faded, but I think there is a leaping deer?...

If it looks like this, it was made by Gebrüder Busch, Remscheid (Germany):

hirsch_logo.jpg


http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/hirsch.phtml

Found in this "Database of marks used by manufacturers and merchants of woodworking tools; Current content: 648 German and European marks." After clicking on US flag for English language, entered "deer" as the detail.
http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/markensuche.phtml
 
If it looks like this, it was made by Gebrüder Busch, Remscheid (Germany):

hirsch_logo.jpg


http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/hirsch.phtml

Found in this "Database of marks used by manufacturers and merchants of woodworking tools; Current content: 648 German and European marks." After clicking on US flag for English language, entered "deer" as the detail.
http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/markensuche.phtml

You're certainly resourceful! lol

It is indeed the one on the right. :)
 
Now the only question is if it was made for domestic or foreign markets! :)
 


It's been a couple years since I made a cleaver....this thread has me inspired! I think I'm due to forge out another one!
 
So I never went looking to buy a cleaver, but this was there when I went to buy some other things today and it was cheap and I liked it. I come back here and oh look there is a cleaver thread. Of course there is!
L & I J White Buffalo NY 1837, this sucker is near 15" long with a 9" blade and weighs 3lbs. I know nothing about cleavers, what do I have here?


 
Thanks a lot fellas...now I want a cleaver or two. As if I needed something else to scout for. I have absolutely no use for one, or any idea how I could fit one into my life other than splitting raw squash every now and then. But, yeah...I want one now. :)
 
Hello, forged these from spring steel, 10 mm thicknes, 260 mm in length, 70 mm wide, for lighter use in the kitchen





 
Those are pretty Lochness. Great job! I don't own a cleaver but those are beauties.
 
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